Halftime `chat' pays off

From the Courier: Clyde 1 Arbroath 2: Half-time team ‘chat’ pays off for Lichties

28 March 2016 8.08am.

Arbroath came from behind to move within touching distance of survival and dash Clyde’s hopes of going top.

The Gayfield team were playing catch-up after only eight minutes but a pulsating second half performance was rewarded with goals from Bobby Linn and Ricky Little to leave manager Dick Campbell admitting: “We are almost sorted for the season and hopefully we can get that done soon.

“I was unhappy at half-time as Clyde were shading things. Once we got the players in and had a word we were much better.

“I had to have a bit of a chat with them at half-time at Queen’s Park last weekend as well. Hopefully they now know that I don’t really want to be doing that again.”

Clyde dominated early and Andy Munro cleared off the line before the hosts took the lead when goalkeeper Allan Fleming’s uncertainty allowed Scott McLaughlin to take the ball around him and cross for Jordan Kirkpatrick to volley in from six yards.

Greg Rutherford missed a great chance to level when he mis-kicked in front of goal shortly afterwards with the rest of the half seeing chances at both ends.

The second 45 minutes belonged to the Red Lichties and they equalised on 56 minutes when Bobby Linn cheekily chipped in a penalty after Josh Skelly had been fouled by Scott Durie.

Within two minutes Arbroath were ahead when Linn’s curling free-kick was spilled by home goalkeeper Marc Waters and Little forced the ball home.

Reid slid the chance of a third just past while Kirkpatrick fired a late effort into the side-netting.